Zlatko Dalić Prepares Historic Precedent. We Reveal His Plans for Mateo Kovačić | Večernji List Investigates Potential Tactical Shift and Midfielder's Fitness Ahead of World Cup

The Croatian national football team, under the guidance of coach Zlatko Dalić, is reportedly contemplating a significant tactical departure for the upcoming World Cup. Večernji List has learned that Dalić is exploring the possibility of deploying a formation with three central defenders, a system that would represent a historic precedent during his tenure.

This potential shift, likely a 3-5-2 or even a 3-6-1 setup, is primarily aimed at bolstering defensive solidity, emphasizing a strong midfield presence, and potentially fielding only one advanced forward. Such a strategy would prioritize preventing goals, a stark contrast to more attack-minded approaches.

A major question mark hangs over the inclusion of key midfielder Mateo Kovačić. His season has been severely hampered by Achilles tendon surgery and subsequent procedures to remove calcifications, resulting in minimal playing time. Despite his extensive experience and crucial role in past successes, Kovačić's lack of match fitness poses a considerable risk. Coach Dalić intends to use upcoming friendly matches against Belgium and Slovenia as a final assessment of Kovačić's readiness before finalizing his World Cup squad, leaving fans and pundits alike in suspense.